Gate-fastener.



H.. S,- & J. K. MUNSINGER.

GATE FASTENER.

urmoumu rum) OUT. 1, 1909.

970,345. I Patented Sept. 13,1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM S. MUNSINGER AND JOSEPH K. MUNSIN GER, OF HOWARD, KANSAS.

GATE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Application filed October 1, 1909. Serial No. 520,443.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that we, HIRAM S. M UNSJ Neal: and Josnrn K. MUNSINGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Howard, in the county of Elk and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to gate fasteners and one of its objects is to provide a fastener of a strong, simple, and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate fastener which. will securely hold the gate in a closed position by means of a pair of rings spaced apart and positioned so that the ring first contacted with will be forced upward and allow a tongue to pass under it and be stopped from any further movement by the second ring.

To these and other ends the invention resides in the novel construction of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fence and a gate therefor, the outer end post of the gate being equipped with the improved fastener. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the fastener partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the supporting plates for fastening the improved latch 'to a gate ost.

p Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 designates a latching post of a fence, 2 is a gate post to which the usual gate 3 is hinged. The outer vertical bar 3 of the gate is equipped with a pair of supporting plates 4, the member of said pair of plates being disposed on opposite sides of said vertical bar 3, and having one of their ends projecting beyond the latching face thereof. The projected end of each plate is bifurcated and bent to provide an upper outturned ear 5, having an adjusting slot 6 formed therein, and an inturned lower ear 7 having its end bifurcated as indicated at 8. A guard-plate 9 is adjustably fastened to said outturned ears 5, by means of the bolts 10 which pass through the adjusting slots 6 of said ears 5 and are retained in the desired adjusted position by the lock nuts 11. Said guard plate 9, is provided with a bolt 12 adjacent each end which supports a second guard-plate 13 in spaced parallel relation to the first-mentioned guard-plate 9. A pair of pivot bolts 14 connect said guardplates, said bolts being located adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of said plate and spaced on each side of the center of said guard-plates 9 and .13. A latching ring 15 is inovably suspended by each pivot bolt 14. A guide-plate 16 having upwardly curved ends 17 is provided with intermediate longitudinal slots 18 for the reception of bolts 19 which engage the bifurcated ends of the inturned ears 7 so that the said guide-plate 16 may be locked in a desired adjusted position relative to said cars by means of look nuts.

The operation of this improved gate fastener is as follows: When the gate is swinging closed the tongue 20 of the fence post 1, contacts with one end of the guide-plate 16 and with one of the rings 15 which is raised out of its normal position, and then the tongue 20 strikes the other ring 15 which is forced upwardly and outwardly until it comes in contact with the bolt 12, thus effectually locking the gate. WVhen it is desired to open the gate either of the rings 15 may be lifted with the finger thus leaving space for the tongue 20 to pass under the ring.

Various changes in the minor details of construction and form may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described comprising post plates, guard-plates adjustably supported by said post-plates, an adjustable guide-plate, carried by said postplates below said guard-plates and latching means supported by said guard-plates.

2. A device of the character described comprising post-plates having outwardly extending upper ears and inwardly extending lower eais, guard-plates carried by said outwardly extending ears, a guide plate carried by the inwardly extending ears, and latching means supported by said guardplates.

3. A device of the character described comprising post-plates having outwardly extending upper ears, and inwardly extending lower ears, guard-plates adjustably at tached to the upper cars, a guide-plate adjustably attached to the lower ears, and

latching means supported by said guardplates.

4. A device of the character described,

5 comprising post-plates an inner guard-plate adjustably attached to the said post-plates,

an outer guard-plate carried by said inner plate and supported in parallel spaced relation therewith, pivot bolts between said 10 guard-plates, latching means supported thereby, and a guide plate adjustably sup ported by the post-plates below said guardplates.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aflix our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses. 15

HIRAM S. MUNSINGER. JOSEPH K. MUNSINGER lVitnesses OWEN A. OLIVER, JAMES A. OLIVER. 

